The Portland daily press., 1887-02-03
Y. p. s. c. z.
Celebrates Its Sixth Anniversary at
WiIIlston Church.

In spite Of the cold and storm good mum
Der gathered In Williston church last eve
ming to celebrate the 9Th birthday Of the
Society Of Christian Endeavor. Although
this was the pioneer society it has grown SO
rapidly that societies Of the same name are
found in every State and Territory in ouI
country and in almost every country in the
world. They have been found especially
useful in missionary work. There are over
1850 societies now recorded with member
ship Of something like 100000, and in every
evangelical denomination.
Rev. Mr.. Hallock, pastor OF Williston
church, gave warm and friendly greeting
to the visiting friends, in these words;
The original Slmon-pure Young Peoples
Society OF Williston church, TO our sisters and
brothers, none Of which have reached the vener-
able age OF six years, to which we this night at
tain, extendeth most cordial greeting. Staying
here in the old nest we look proudly out TO our
distant horizon, count our children by the thou
sand, are glad we were horn, and that our poster
ity forget not the ancient command, "Be fruitful
and multiply, and replenish the earth
We warmly welcome you brothers and fellow
workers, to our home, and to memOry's feast
about to be spread before US. We congratulate
ourselves also upon our advanced age; and to
gether we shall soon look with honest pride, at
the cradle In which we were rocked, SIX long
years ago, and recall the tender touch Of him who
begot US, as he took Us n his then unwonted
women Of God In our infant organization; though
wish that even he knew not the revelations
which these six years held In secret store.
We shall listen to the echoes Of the feeble words
with which some Of US began our work, and trace
the stalwart growth which has come from their
Endeayor-the merit0riOus word In our christian
name" We still are here, though our author has
gone to wider fields, and not few Of our family
have scattered to other harvests; stil we are the
fulfill the melody.
"Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for TO carry me home"
until one by one the boys are all gone-and ten
dery the girls also; nevertheless, like the dis.
jointed jaek-knife- blade gone, new handle put In
twice over it is the same old knife that it always
wasl
Gratitude to God is the chief element in our re-
Joicing tonight, we behold the ilimitable forest
which has sprung up. as oaks from ripened nuts,
Of organic life. We. are almost dazed
whose "sons come TO honor and they know
Il not" and somehow we have a FAINT sense
that from something we had hand In, we hardly
has overspread the earth. We haven't done any
thing marvellous, N we did we didn't mean to)
and yet "a some fashion we seem 70 be blessed In
the result. and humbly thank God for what he
has wrought since tho first nut happened TO drop
in this Willist0n soil. Hoping for nObler service
we plan TO do more for God tomorrow than YES. Ss
terday Aiming 10 be more than ever a helpmeet
for the church. (which Is Christ's body" we pray
for deeper spirituality and intenser loyalty 20 our
one Master. This Is our chief endeavor; God
One happy experience of my boyhood was this /:
for % long one had signed Hf WITH 6s
at the prospect, when he suddenly surprised me
BY stopping. was happy Let me repay the
Williston's Christian welcome to you all tonight
by giving you the same unexpected pleasure.
Nothing but an exclamation point stands after my
last word-Welcomel
Mr.. Edmund t. Garland, president Of the
society, related the story of the first begin
ming of the society. Mr.. Henry B. Pennell
told Of the first prayer meeting. he having
led the first Christian Endeavor prayer
meeting. Miss Metealf, the correspondent
Of the United Society, told Of the rapid
growth in the world at large.
Letters were read from Rev. +. 4. Clark
and his wife, from Miss Agnes NJ. Lord of
Turkey, from Miss Eta II. Stanwood, and
also from George NJ Ward, general secretary
Mr.. Edward l.. Sayward told in a very
happy manner Of the first years work in
this society.
After some cheering words from friends
present, Mr.. v. Richard Foss gave a grand
address s.la on danger Signals" He said,
may try to run from some denominational
depot but they are bound to get left. Let us
help in this united work. We have main
line and we must keep on that. This main
line Is the salvation of souls. We have rules
and regulations that must be lived up to II
After singing
"Blest be the Tie that binds"
the benedietion was pronounced by the
DagtOr